High speed printing device for printing characters of different physical sizes



HIGH SPEED PRINIIING DEVICE FOR PRINTING CHARACTERS OF DIFFERENT PHYSICAL SIZES Filed May 15, 1964 161718 5031 4 IHUIJ IWMMWI I 2 26a N ODD 25 94 3 5552 25 EVEN y 012222222 000 Nx m 35553335 EVEN m P03335535 15 7 'FZQAJQAAE? 28b":H an n 25K 24 F IG 1 Zkj 225 24 AMP AMP 12545 910 1 FIG 3 ||lli ll-- IAAiAiii A Kin q A A A A A A A A 40 40b 0 5 BBBBBBB BB INVENTOR GUSTAVE 0. CERF ATTORNE Y United States Patent Ofitice 3,282,204 Patented Nov. 1, 1966 HIGH SPEED PRINTING DEVICE FOR PRINTHNG CHARACTERS OF DIFFERENT PHYSICAL SIZES Gustave David (Jeri, Ambler, Pa, assignor to Sperry Rand Corporation, New York, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Filed May 15, 1964, Scr. No. 367,697 3 Claims. (CL Hill-93) This invention relates to a high speed printing device and more particularly to a high speed drum printing device employing character printing type in different size and physical arrangements to permit intermixed size character printing.

In the high speed printer art, drum printers of the type described and depicted in the U. 5. Patents #2,978,977 to J. P. Eckert, Jr. et al. and #2,9*15,967 to A. J. Gehring Jr. et .al. employ print drums upon which are placed character printing type. The character type is arranged around the periphery of the type drum in a plurality of columns equivalent in number to the columns of the record to be printed out and in a plurality of rows equivalent in number to the separate and distinct character types which are available for printing. The characters for each of the columns may be arranged as is desired in a single row, or in two rows, a first row including all possible odd printing locations, and a second row constituting all possible even locations. Thus in an example wherein a record is to be printed in 130 columns, the arrangement of character type upon the drum would be such as to place 130 of the same character, for example, the character A in one or two adjacent rows along the length of the dum. This would permit at one or possibly two printing times the printing of a character A in each of the 130 columns of the record. The number of rows around the circumference or periphery of the type drum would depend upon the number of characters to be printed. Assuming it is desired to print the 26 alphabetical characters, the numerical characters, and a plurality of special symbols and punctuation marks giving a total of 63 possible characters, and further assuming that it is desired to employ two rows for each one of these characters, then there would be 126 of these rows around the periphery of the drum.

The type drum is rotated continuously at constant speed so that the character type pass repeatedly and in a definite order past a position called a printing line at which are located a plurality of hammers. Usually there is a single hammer for every possible printable character position. That is to say, in the assumed example of 130 columns, there would be 130 print hammers and their associating actuating circuitry. A record will be moved past the print line in a step-by-step fashion, that is the record will be moved to the print line and stopped for the period required to cause the printing of all possible positions and then advanced to present a further portion of the record to the print line. Printing may be accomplished by means of the normal techniques employing ribbons, or pressure sensitive records employing no ribbon may be employed as is desired.

Firing of the hammers to cause printing is controlled in a manner described in the above cited patents. The firing of print hammers is caused in response to coincidence between a stored character, which represents the character to be printed, and the character next available for printing. This character next available for printing is identified by means of a code wheel which is rotated in coincidence with the type drum. In the devices of the type described an entire print line or line to be printed is stored, and the entire line is compare against the individual characters as they are made available, and all positions of coincidence are printed simultaneously.

In devices of this type, it is not possible, simply and easily to print characters of greater than normal width or height if required for certain specific purposes. It may be necessary, if it is desired to print characters other than those normally available on the drum to second print the already printed record, or to disassemble the entire printing mechanism and replace the print drum with a further drum having the proper or desired printing type font. Either technique is costly and wasteful.

The instant invention makes possible the printing of characters of both normal size and increased size whether they be alphabetical or numerical by means of a unique arrangement of the character type upon the type drum and further by a unique arrangement of the printing hammers and their actuator circuits. This is accomplished by dividing the type drum into a first portion containing the character type in its usual location and of its usual size, as is found in either of the above cited patents. In addition, a second portion is devoted to character type of an increased size which may be oriented in the same direction as the character type in the first portion or perpendicular thereto. The character type of both sizes are placed along a common timing mark located on the type drum and thus parallel 'or serial printing of both size characters are possible using presently available equipment. The printing hammers and actuators for the character type in the first portion remain as found in the cited patent devices. That is, a single hammer of the same size is located in each of the possible columns of print type. For example, in the above stated device of columns, 114 columns may constitute the first portion and are devoted to normal printing, and thus 114 hammers would be required for these columns, one hammer corresponding to each column. In the second portion of 16 columns, wherein there are located the oversized printing type the hammers are maintained on the same one-to-one basis of hammers to columns, however, the size of the hammer is increased in the direction of travel of the rotating type drum. Certain hammer positions are then omitted to permit spacing between respective increased size character type. If it is arbitrarily assumed that the character type in the second portion will be made three times as wide as the character type in the first portion, then three hammers of increased height will be employed, and these hammers will be ganged to a common input source so as to be actuated simultaneously. Alternatively, a single hammer of proper height and three columns in width may be substituted for the described three hammers in such an arrangement only a single actuator would be necessary. Thus with a slight change in the equipment and a change in the basic type drum type configuration, it is possible to print characters of a plurality of distinct sizes without changing the drum and its associated recoding and retiming or without double printing the record. It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an improved form of high speed printer employing a type drum.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an improved form of high speed printer with which it is possible to print characters of more than a single size.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a high speed printer employing a type drum upon which are located printing type of more than a single size and which employs a number or hammers commensurate with the size of each of said printing type to permit the printing of all of the characters found upon the surface of the type drum.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide a high speed printer employing a type drum upon which are located printing type of more than a single size and which employs hammers of appropriate size for each size of printing type to permit the printing of all the characters found upon the surface of the type drum.

Other objects and features of the invention will be pointed out in the following description and claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings which disclose, by way of example, the principals of the invention, and the best modes which have been contemplated for carrying it out.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 illustrates in diagrammatic form a portion of a printing drum constructed in accordance with the concepts of this invention, and which further illustrates the location and manner of interconnection of the printing hammers and hammer actuators employed with the drum.

FIG. 2 shows an alternative arrangement of a type drum constructed in accordance with the concepts to this invention, and further illustrates the location and manner of interconnection of the print-ing hammers and hammer actuators employed with this drum.

FIG. 3 shows a modification of the printing hammer and hammer actuator which may be employed with the drums of FIG. 1 or FIG. 2.

Similar elements will be given similar reference characters in each of their respective drawings.

Turning now to FIG. 1, a printing arrangement con stru-cted in accordance with the basic concepts of this invention is depicted. The printing device comprises a type drum 2 which is rotated at a constant speed in the direction of the arrow by means of a drive mechanism (not shown). The type drum 2 would in its unmodified form be capable of printing in 130 separate columns along the width of a record (not shown). As can be seen, the columns 17 to through 130 are arranged as they would be in either of the above cited US. patents, which are incorporated by reference herein, that is a first row 4 of character type arranged to print in the odd numbered columns of a record and a second row 6 of character type arranged to print in the alternate or even numbered columns of the same record. In line with each of these rows of character type is a sprocket mark 13 in a sprocket channel 15 which serves to identify the odd rows 4, with an odd sprocket and the even rows 6 with an even sprocket. in each of these rows is located a character type 8 against which the record will be pressed by printing hammers, located at the print line 3 to cause printing when the desired character type 8 has been rotated to a position at the print line 3 and the hammer corresponding to the desired column has been actuated. The columns 1 through 16 are employed for character type of increased size and for certain required spacing. The character type placed in the columns 1 through 16 are arranged in a direction perpendicular to the directions of the lines of character type 8 in the columns 17 to 130 of the type drum. This large size type 10 may be arranged as is shown in FIG. 1 or may be arranged in the same direction as the lines of type 8 as will be described below with refierence to FIG. 2. Character type 10 in columns 1 to 16 are located so as to be centered about their associated sprocket mark 13 in the same manner as are the character type 8 in columns 17 to 130 of the drum 2. That is to say, there is a row 12 arranged at an odd sprocket mark 13 to print in odd columns followed by a further row 14 arranged to print in the even columns arranged at an even sprocket mark 13. The sprocket marks 13, described in greater detail in the cited Gehring Jr. et al. Patent 2,915,967, are employed to indicate that a line of character type is at the print line 3 and that printing may take place. The same rotation of characters will be followed as is followed in the right hand portion of the drum. The relative size of the characters 8 and 10 can better be appreciated by considering the dimensions of the respective type: the character type 8 in columns 17 to 130 of the drum are 0.100 of an inch in height (that is in the direction of type drum rotation) whereas the character type 10 in columns 1 to 16 of type drum 2 are 0.175 of an inch in height. The alternate row 4 character spacing as well as the column alternation prevent overlapping of consecutive character type with either the large size character type 10 or the small sized character type 8. Additionally, the character type 10 is of approximately three times the width of the individual character type 8 found in columns 17 to of the type drum 2. For example, character type 10a, which is the large size :a-rabic numeral 1, occupies the columns 1, 2 and 3 that normally might be occupied by three distinct numerals 1 of the normal size character type 8. Each of the character type 10 are separated by one column, that is the column 4 separates the character type 10a in columns 1, 2 and 3 from the character 10b in the columns 5, 6 and 7 to prevent unwanted printing of adjacent characters or portions thereof. Due to the relative size of the character type 10, their spacing and orientation and the inherent stiffness of the record, a column spacing must be observed to prevent unwanted printing.

As is set out above, associated with each of the columns 17 through 130 is a normal size printing hammer 20 arranged at the print line 3, which in turn is coupled to a hammer actuator coil 22 for operation. Each of these actuator coils 22 are in turnconnected at terminals 24 to a corresponding one of the output lines of a. set of control thyratrons 48 as shown in FIGURE 1 of the Gehring Patent 2,915,967. The hammers 26 for the columns 1 through 3, 5 through 7, 9 through 12, and 13 through 15, as stated above, are of the same width as the hammers 20 for the columns 17 through 130, but are of increased height so as to permit the printing of the increased size character type 10. Therefore, since the characters 10 are approximately 75% higher than the characters 8, it is necessary that the hammers 26 also be 75 longer, in the direction of type drum rotation, than the equivalent hammers 20. Each of the hammers 26 are in turn connected to an actuator coil 28 via linkage 27. The actuator coils 28 associated with a single large character type column are ganged together and connected to an amplifier 30 which in turn is connected to one of the output lines of a thyratron 48 of the Gehring patent. For example, the three actuators 26a, 26b and 26c corresponding to the columns 1, 2 and 3 are coupled to amplifier 30a. The coupling of all associated actuators to a single input source will insure that a single character will be printed in a relatively continuous fashion and at the same time. The hammers 20 will be operated in their normal manner, via the linkage 27 when their associated actuator coils 22 receive signals from the thyratrons 48 of Gehring Jr. et al.

With this arrangement it is only necessary to substitute hammers of increased size for normal hammers, and only in positions corresponding to the larger type size when the type drums are changed to include a type drum of the type described herein. The same actuators may be retained when the type drum is changed which is a saving in equipment and changeover time. However, if it is desired that a single hammer and actuator be employed to replace the three hammers 26a, 26b and 26c and their respective actuators 28a, 28b, and 280, then a hammer of the size and type shown in FIGURE 3 may be employed. FIGURE 3 illustrates a hammer 26 which covers the entire width of the columns 1, 2 and 3 as well as the height of the entire character type 10a. Such a hammer when actuated by its associated actuator 28' can be caused to print the entire character. This, however, would require a rearrangement of the actuators as well as the inclusion of sufiicient power supplies required by the larger actuators.

Due to the arrangement of the character types 10 and 8, it is possible for the printing of large size characters and small size characters to be carried out in quite the same manner as is done with the Gehring patent cited above. Certain adjustments must be made, however, in the storage location allocations in the memory of the Gehring et al. patent due to the fact that the information will now only be stored at 118 locations of the 130 locations which would be possible with the Gehring device. That is, the normal one-to-one relationship of storage location to printing column will be changed to a small degree. Since a single character will occupy three print columns, but since only a single storage location identifies the character to be printed, one storage location will suffice for the three formerly used. Further, no storage space is needed for the spaces such as column 4, As a result of this arrangement form storage spaces take care of the first 16 columns. It would further be necessary, in empolying the Gehring device, to limit the storage of information in the first 4 storage locations to the storage only of large size characters. The devices operation would progress then in a manner similar to that described in the Gehring Jr. et al. patent. It should be understood that printing will take place in the parallel printing mode, that is with all possible printing positions being printed at the same time.

Turning now to FIG. 2, a further arrangement of the print drum 2 constructed in accordance with this invention is disclosed. In this embodiment, the character type 8 of normal size are found in the columns 9 through 130, whereas character type 40 of larger size are found in the columns 1 through 8. In this arrangement, the character type 40 are approximately 75% wider and 75 higher than the character type 8, and are arranged in columns whose directions are parallel with the columns of the character type 8. Due to their size and spacing, it is not necssary in this arrangement to provide blank columns on the print drum 2. Therefore large size character type 40a and 40c will be located in columns 1 and 2 whereas large size character type 40b and 40d will be located in the columns 3 and 4. The hammers associated with character type 40 will be approximately 75 higher than a hammer employed with character type 8 and a single column wide. The hammers 46a and 4612, which cooperate respectively, with the columns 1 and 2, will be driven in turn by actuators 49a and 49b supplied from a common amplifier 5011. Thus an input signal to amplifier 50a will operate the hammer actuators 49a and 49b to operate the hammers 46a and 46b simultaneous and print the character whose character type is at the printing line at that time. Alternatively, a hammer such as that shown in FIG. 3 may be substituted for the two hammers 46a and 46b shown in FIG. 2. This would involve a hammer which is as wide as the columns 1 and 2, and as high as the character 49a itself, substituted for the two hammers 46a and 46b. The actuator would be increased in size to provide the proper driving current for the hammer.

While there have been shown and described particular forms of the cited invention, it would be obvious to mechanics skilled in the art, to make certain modifications therein, and permit the device to print in the serial mode, wherein individual hammers are sequentially fired to cause the printing of the characters. In this arrangement, with respect to FIG. 1 for example, the hammers constituting columns 1, 2 and 3 would be operated simultaneously and followed by the sequential and simultaneous operation of the hammers for columns 5, 6 and 7. In proper sequence then, the hammers 17, 18, 19 through 130 would then be fired one at a time, but sequentially. Another serial approach would permit the actuators 26a, 26b and 260 of FIGURE 1 to be operated separately and directly by their associated thyratron and in sequence as with columns 17 to 130. In such an arrangement, the original one-toone relationship of storage location to print column would have to be observed. Additionally in order that a complete character be formed in the large character area without waiting for two sprocket times or both the odd and even rows certain actuators are coupled to other hammers than their associated hammers. That is at the odd time, the odd hammers, corresponding to columns 1, 3, 5, 7 etc. are fired in sequence, but if actuator for column 3 is tied to the hammer for column 2 and the actuator for column 5 is tied to the hammer for column 3, then in 6 sequence and during the odd sprocket time the large character will be printed.

While there have been shown and described and pointed out the fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to the preferred embodiments, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes of the form and details of the device as illutrasted and in its operation may be made by those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. In a high speed printing apparatus, for printing in a plurality of character spaces across the width of a record, a printing assembly including: a movable printing type carrier having a plurality of character printing type there on arranged in lines in the direction of movement of said type carrier, said printing type comprising: a first group of printing type of a first size equivalent to a single character space width and arranged in first preassigned lines and a second group of printing type of a second size, equivlent to more than a single character space width and arranged in second preassigned lines; a plurality of printing hammers supported in positions to strike said printing type, one of said printing hammers being associated with each line of said printing type of said first group and a plurality of printing hammers being associated with each line of said printing type of said second group, each of said printing hammers being sufiiciently large to strike the entire height of its associated printing type; a plurality of printing hammer actuators, one for each printing hammer; coupling means, one for each line of said second printing type group, each coupling means coupled to all of the printing hammer actuators associated with one of said lines in said second printing type group; and circuit means coupled to said coupling means and said printing hammer actuators of said first printing type group to actuate the printing hammers in accordance with the location and size of the character to be printed.

2. In a high speed printing apparatus for printing in a plurality of character spaces across the width of a record, a printing assembly including: a movable printing type carrier having a plurality of character printing type thereon arranged in lines in the direction of movement of said type carrier, said printing type comprising a first group of printing type of a first size equivalent to a single character space width and arranged in first preassigned rows and a second group of printing type of a second size, equivalent to more than a single character space width and arranged in second preassigned lines; a plurality of printing hammers supported in positions to strike said printing type, one of said printing hammers being associated with each row of printing type; each of said printing hammers being sufficiently large to strike the entire surface of its associated printing type; a plurality of hammer actuators, one for each of said printing hammers; and circuit means coupled to said printing hammer actuators to actuate the printing hammers in accordance with the location and size of the characterty-pe to be printed.

3. In a high speed printing apparatus, for printing in a plurality of character spaces across the width of a record, a printing assembly including: a movable printing type carrier having a plurality of character printing type thereon arranged in lines in the direction of movement of said type carrier, said printing type comprising a first group of printing type of a first size equivalent to a single character space width and height and arranged in first preassigned lines and a second group of printing type of a second size, equivalent to more than a single character space width and height and arranged in second preassigned lines; a plurality of printing hammers supported in positions to strike said printing type, one of said printing hammers being associated with each line of said printing type of said first group and a plurality of printing hammers being associated with each line of said printing type of said second group, each of said printing hammers being 7 sufiiciently large to strike its proportionate part of its associated printing type; a plurality of hammer actuators, one for each of said printing hammers; coupling means, one for each row of said second printing type group, each coupling means coupled to all of the hammer actuators associated with one of said lines in said second printing type group; and circuit means coupled to said coupling means and said hammer actuators of said first printing type group to actuate the printing hammers in accordance References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS with the location and size of the character to be printed. 10 WILLIAM B. PENN, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN A HIGH SPEED PRINTING APPARATUS, FOR PRINTING IN A PLURALITY OF CHARACTER SPACES ACROSS THE WIDTH OF A RECORD, A PRINTING ASSEMBLY INCLUDING: A MOVABLE PRINTING TYPE CARRIER HAVING A PLURALITY OF CHARACTER PRINTING TYPE THEREON ARRANGED IN LINES IN THE DIRECTION OF MOVEMENT OF SAID TYPE CARRIER, SAID PRINTING TYPE COMPRISING: A FIRST GROUP OF PRINTING TYPE OF A FIRST SIZE EQUIVALENT TO A SINGLE CHARACTER SPACE WIDTH AND ARRANGED IN FIRST PREASSIGNED LINES AND A SECOND GROUP OF PRINTING TYPE OF A SECOND SIZE, EQUIVALENT TO MORE THAN A SINGLE CHARACTER SPACE WIDTH AND ARRANGED IN SECOND PREASSIGNED LINES; A PLURALITY OF PRINTING HAMMERS SUPPORTED IN POSITIONS TO STRIKE SAID PRINTING TYPE, ONE OF SAID PRINTING HAMMERS BEING ASSOCIATED WITH EACH LINE OF SAID PRINTING TYPE OF SAID FIRST GROUP AND A PLURALITY OF PRINTING HAMMERS BEING ASSOCIATED WITH EACH LINE OF SAID PRINTING TYPE OF SAID SECOND GROUP, EACH OF SAID PRINTING HAMMERS BEING SUFFICIENTLY LARGE TO STRIKE THE ENTIRE HEIGHT OF ITS ASSOCIATED PRINTING TYPE; A PLURALITY OF PRINTING HAMMER ACTUATORS, ONE FOR EACH PRINTING HAMMER; COUPLING MEANS, ONE FOR EACH LINE OF SAID SECOND PRINTING TYPE GROUP, EACH COUPLING MEANS COUPLED TO ALL OF THE PRINTING HAMMER ACTUATORS ASSOCIATED WITH ONE OF SAID LINES IN SAID SECOND PRINTING TYPE GROUP; AND CIRCUIT MEANS COUPLED TO SAID COUPLING MEANS AND SAID PRINTING HAMMER ACTUATORS OF SAID FIRST PRINTING TYPE GROUP TO ACTUATE THE PRINTING HAMMERS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LOCATION AND SIZE OF THE CHARACTER TO BE PRINTED. 